Round table storage rack

ABSTRACT

A storage rack for round tables having foldable legs, that maintains each table in a vertical position, includes a base fabricated from first and second parallel pairs of tubing sections which are welded together to form a rectangular arrangement. The rim of a round table positioned vertically on the base makes contact with both tubing sections of the first pair, which are spaced apart a distance calculated to maintain the lowermost point of the rim above the level of the floor on which the base rests. A horizontally disposed bar having a welded notched plate welded thereto is supported at each end by a vertical support post, which is secured to one of the tubing sections of the second pair. The notched plate has a number of equally-spaced, downward-facing notches, each of which is sized to receive the rim of a single round table.

PRIORITY DATA

This application has a claim of priority based on the filing ofprovisional patent application No. 60/969,814 of the same title and bythe same inventor on Sep. 4, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates, generally, to storage racks and, moreparticularly, to storage racks used to store round, generally laminaritems in a vertical orientation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Round tables having foldable legs are commonly used in the hospitalityindustry primarily for dining functions. Many churches have largeinventories of such tables, which are commonly used for social functionsand congregational dinners. The most common size of round table is 60inches in diameter, as it is difficult to reach much beyond the centerof such table while standing near the edge.

A variety of wheeled storage carts are available for the storage ofround tables having foldable legs. The rim of each of multiple tablesrests on two spaced apart supports, which prevent the stored tables fromrolling. However, these storage carts all suffer from the disadvantagethat they have no indexing capability which maintains each table in anupright position. Thus, if they are not entirely full, the tables willlean and cause the cart and tables to become unbalanced and potentiallyunstable.

What is needed is a storage rack for round tables having foldable legsthat eliminates the design flaw that allows prior art storage racks andstorage carts to become unbalanced when no entirely full.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a storage rack for round tables havingfoldable legs that maintains each table in a vertical position. Thestorage rack can be designed to store multiple tables of any diameter,including diameters of 42, 48, 54, 60 and 72 inches. The rack includes abase fabricated from first and second parallel pairs of tubing sectionswhich are welded together to form a rectangular arrangement. Althoughthe base may be fabricated from either round or square tubing, theinvention is disclosed as an embodiment having a base fabricated fromsquare tubing. When a table is positioned vertically on the base, therim of the table makes contact with both tubing sections of the firstpair, which are spaced apart a distance calculated to maintain thelowermost point of the rim above the level of the floor on which thebase rests. A horizontally disposed indexing bar is supported at eachend by a vertical support post, which is welded to one of the tubingsections of the second pair. The indexing bar has welded thereto a platehaving a number of equally-spaced, downward-facing notches whichcorrespond to the number of tables which can be stored on the rack. Eachnotch is sized to receive the rim of a single round table. By extendingthe length of the base and the indexing bar, the rack can be made toaccommodate the storage of additional tables. Each notch is ofsufficient depth that a table can be rolled over either of the tubingsections of the first pair and into the notch, without the rimcontacting the top of the notch. A ramp may be provided which extendsthe full length either or both of the first pair of tubing sections, andfacilitates rolling the table, on its rim, over the associated tubingsection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top/front/left-end isometric view of a storage rack ofunitized construction for indexed, vertical storage of round tableshaving foldable legs;

FIG. 2 is a bottom/front/right-end isometric view of the unitized tablestorage rack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the unitized table storagerack of FIG. 1, which is loaded with at least one table having foldedlegs, the table being stored vertically on edge;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a unitized table storage rackadapted to store ten round tables with foldable legs in vertical,equally-spaced format;

FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view of a unitized table storage rack,showing the rolling route of entry from the floor, up the ramp, and intothe rack, for a single round table with foldable legs;

FIG. 6 is a top/front/left-end isometric view of the unitized tablestorage rack of FIGS. 1 and 2 loaded with ten round tables having foldedlegs;

FIG. 7 is a bottom/front/right-end isometric view of the unitized tablestorage rack of FIGS. 1 and 2 loaded with ten round tables having foldedlegs;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a knock-down embodiment of a storage rackfor indexed, vertical storage of round tables having foldable legs;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a first embodiment notched plateof the table indexing bar;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment notched plateof the table indexing bar;

FIG. 11 is an exploded isometric view of a polymeric plastic indexingblock mountable with threaded fasteners to a portion of the secondembodiment notched plate; and

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the second embodiment notchedplate having a plurality of ploymeric plastic indexing blocks securedthereto.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a storage rack for round tables havingfoldable legs that maintains each table in a vertical position. Theround table storage rack will now be described in detail with referenceto the attached drawing figures. It should be understood that thedrawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and that they are intendedto be merely representative of the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a storage rack 100 for indexed, verticalstorage of round tables having foldable legs is shown loaded with atleast one table 101. The rack 100 has a base 101 fabricated from firstand second horizontal parallel, square tubing section pairs 102A/102Band 103A/103B, respectively, which are welded together to form arectangular arrangement. Although the base 101 may be fabricated fromeither round or square tubing, the invention is disclosed as anembodiment having a base fabricated from square tubing. A horizontallydisposed table indexing bar 104 is supported at each end by a verticalsupport post 105A and 105B, which are welded directly the tubingsections of second pair 103A and 103B, respectively. The table indexingassembly 104 includes a horizontal tube of square cross section 104A anda notched plate 104B, which is welded to the tube 104A. A ramp 106facilitates rolling tables up and over tubing section 102B of the firstpair. The ramp 106, which can be made of steel plate with a dinglelongitudinal bend 107, is secured to tube 102B, preferably either bywelding or with counter-sunk screws (not shown). The notched plate 104Bhas ten equally-spaced notches 108A-108J (108 generally), each of whichis shaped to receive the rim of a single table. Each notch 108 is ofsufficient depth (or height, depending on one's perspective) that atable rim has adequate clearance to enter the notch 108 as a table rollsover the ramp 106 and tubing section 102B, en route to its storageposition.

Referring now to the end, or side, view FIG. 3, a single table 301 isvisible in a loaded position on the storage rack 100. When tables 301are positioned vertically on the base 101, the rim 302 of each table 301makes contact with both tubing sections 102A and 102B of the first pair,which are spaced apart a distance calculated to maintain the lowermostpoint of the rim 302 above the level of the floor 303, on which the base101 rests.

Referring now to FIG. 4, ten tables 301 have been loaded onto thestorage rack 100. In this view, the table indexing assembly 104 isreadily visible.

Referring now to FIG. 5, this end view shows the importance of providingadequate clearance at the top of each notch 108, which is represented bythe dashed straight line 501. Each of the dashed circles 502A-502Erepresents a position of a table 101 as it is rolled up the ramp 106 andover tubing section 103B. The solid circle 503 represents the positionof a table 101 that is seated in the cradle formed by tubing sections102A and 102B. It will be noted that dashed circle 501A represents theposition of a table 301 that is in contact with the floor 303. As atable 301 is rolled up the ramp 106 and over tubing section 102B, itselevation above the floor 303 increases. Then, as the table 301 rollsinto the cradle formed by tubing sections 102A and 102B, its elevationabove the floor 303 decreases, although not quite to floor level. Thus,adequate clearance at the top of each notch 108 is required tofacilitate varying elevation of the table while en route to the stable,stored position on the cradle formed by tubing sections 102A and 102B,which is represented by the solid circle 503.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the table storage rack 100, as seen in FIG. 1,has been loaded with ten tables 301. It will be noted that the storagearrangement is very compact and stable, no matter how many of the tentables 301 are removed from the rack 100.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the table storage rack 100, as seen in FIG. 2,has been loaded with ten tables 301. The folding leg assemblies 701 ofthe final table are seen in this view.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a knock-down embodiment 800 of the tablestorage rack replaces the vertical support posts 105A and 105B of theunitized embodiment 100 of the table storage rack with removable supportposts 801A and 801B or 801C and 801D (generally, 801). It will be notedthat removable support posts 801A and 801B are longer than removablesupport posts 801C and 801D. Removable support posts 801A and 801B aresized to accommodate round tables having, for example, a diameter of 60inches, while removable support posts 801C and 801D are sized toaccommodate round tables having a diameter of 48 inches. It should beunderstood that the spacing between the first tubular member pair102A/102B may need to be reduced for smaller diameter tables so as tomaintain the rim 302 above the level of the floor 303. The removablesupport posts 801 can be sized to accommodate a complete range of tableshaving round tops. It will be noted that each of the removable supportposts 801 is equipped with stub extensions 802, which protrude from bothends of each removable support post 801. Those stub extension are sizedto slide with minimal clearance into either the square tube sockets 803Aand 803B, which are welded to the base 804, or the square tube uppersupport posts 805A and 805B, which also function as receiving sockets,and which are welded to the table indexing assembly 104. The knock-downembodiment 800 facilitates shipping of the storage rack, which can beassembled after receipt by an end user. The individual components can beeither welded together or secured together with threaded fasteners, suchas self-boring and self-tapping hardened steel screws.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a first embodiment notched plate 104B of thetable indexing assembly 104 is fabricated from stamped steel plate. Forthis particular notched plate 104B, a total of ten, spaced-apart,downwardly-projecting spacer tabs 901A-901J form ten indexing notches108. The edges around each notch 108 are rounded and smoothed in orderto avoid damage to the rims 302 of the stored round tables 301. Thenotched plate 104B is preferably welded to the horizontal tube 104A.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a second embodiment notched plate 1001 may besubstituted for the first embodiment notched plate 104B. It will benoted that each downwardly-projecting mounting tab 1002A-1002J (1002,generally) is considerably narrower than the spacer tabs 901A-901J ofthe first embodiment notched plate 104B, and that each mounting tab 1002is provided with a pair of apertures 1003A and 1003B. Each aperture pair1003A/1003B will be used to secure a block of low-friction polymericplastic material to each mounting tab 1002A-1002J.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a single block of durable, low-friction,low-abrasive ploymeric plastic material 1101 is shown ready for mountingwith threaded fasteners to one of the downwardly-projecting mountingtabs 1002 of the second embodiment notched plate 1001. Althoughhigh-density polyethylene (HDPE), tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), and nylonare considered to be the preferred low-friction polymeric plasticmaterials from which the blocks 1101 are fabricated, other durablematerials having similar low-friction and low-abrasive characteristicsmay substituted therefor. A pair of machine screws 1102A and 1102B willpass through the apertures 1103A and 1103B in the block 1101, throughthe apertures 1003A and 1003B in the mounting tab 1002, through optionalflat washers 1104A and 1104B, and will be secured with a pair of acornnuts 1105A and 1105B. The acorn nuts 1105A and 1105B are used to protectusers against injury from the exposed ends of the screws 1102A and1102B.

Referring now to FIG. 12, the second embodiment notched plate 1001having ten polymeric plastic blocks 1101 mounted thereto.

Although only a single embodiment of the new table storage rack has beendescribed herein, it should be obvious to those having ordinary skill inthe art that changes and modifications may be made thereto withoutdeparting from the scope and the spirit of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

1. A storage rack for multiple tables having round tabletops with rimsand foldable legs comprises: a base having a pair of parallel,spaced-apart tubular members which, together, support the rim of eachtable in two locations of its circumference; a horizontally-disposedindexing bar elevated above the base, said indexing bar having a lineararray of generally evenly-spaced, downward-facing notches, each notchhaving a lateral width sized to accommodate the rim of a single storedtable; and a pair of upright members, each of which secures an end ofthe indexing bar to an end of the base.
 2. The storage rack of claim 1,wherein said indexing bar comprises a horizontal tube and an indexingplate, which is welded to the horizontal tube, said indexing platehaving spaced-apart downwardly-projecting tabs which form the notchestherebetween.
 3. The storage rack of claim 1, wherein said tubularmembers are spaced apart a distance calculated to maintain a lowermostpoint of the rim above the level of a generally planar floor on whichthe base rests.
 4. The storage rack of claim 1, wherein each notch ofthe indexing bar is of sufficient depth that a table can be rolled overeither of said tubular members and into each notch, without the tabletoprim of that table contacting an upper limit of the notch.
 5. The storagerack of claim 1, which further comprises a ramp coupled to at least oneof said tubular members, said ramp facilitating the rolling of tablesonto the base of the rack.
 6. The storage rack of claim 1, whereinspacing between said tubular members and height of said upright memberscan be fixed at the time of manufacture to accommodate tables having atabletop of a particular diameters.
 7. The storage rack of claim 1,wherein said base, said indexing bar, and at least a portion of eachupright member are packaged and shipped to an end user as individualpieces which can be assembled as a complete storage rack when receivedby an end user.
 8. The storage rack of claim 7, wherein each point ofconnection between the individual pieces includes a stub extension onone piece and a socket, which receives the stub extension, on the otherpiece.
 9. The storage rack of claim 5, wherein said base, said indexingbar, at least a portion of each upright member, and said ramp arepackaged and shipped to an end user as individual pieces which can beassembled as a complete storage rack following receipt by the end user.10. The storage rack of claim 2, wherein said indexing plate is modifiedsuch that each notch is considerably wider than a tabletop rim of thetables to be stored, and a block of durable ploymeric plastic materialhaving a low coefficient of friction and low abrasiveness is secured toeach downwardly-projecting tab, such that notches on the indexing barare formed by gaps between adjacent blocks of the polymeric plasticmaterial.
 11. The storage rack of claim 10, wherein each block ofdurable polymeric plastic material is secured to a downwardly-projectingtab with threaded fasteners.
 12. The storage rack of claim 10, whereinsaid durable polymeric plastic material is selected from the groupconsisting of HDPE, TFE, and nylon.
 13. A storage rack for multipletables having round tabletops with rims and foldable legs comprises: abase having a pair of parallel, spaced-apart tubular members which,together, support the rim of each table in two locations of itscircumference; a horizontally-disposed indexing bar elevated above thebase, said indexing bar having a linear array of generallyevenly-spaced, downward-facing notches, each notch having a lateralwidth sized to accommodate the rim of a single stored table; a pair ofupright members, each of which secures an end of the indexing bar to anend of the base; and a ramp couplable to at least one of said tubularmembers, said ramp facilitating the rolling of tables onto the base ofthe rack; wherein said base, said indexing bar, at least a portion ofeach upright member, and said ramp are packaged and shipped to an enduser as individual pieces which can be assembled as a complete storagerack following receipt by the end user.
 14. The storage rack of claim13, wherein said indexing bar comprises a horizontal tube and anindexing plate, which is welded to the horizontal tube, said indexingplate having spaced-apart downwardly-projecting tabs which form thenotches therebetween.
 15. The storage rack of claim 13, wherein saidtubular members are spaced apart a distance calculated to maintain alowermost point of the rim above the level of a generally planar flooron which the base rests.
 16. The storage rack of claim 13, wherein eachnotch of the indexing bar is of sufficient depth that a table can berolled over either of said tubular members and into each notch, withoutthe tabletop rim of that table contacting an upper limit of the notch.17. The storage rack of claim 14, wherein said indexing plate ismodified such that each notch is considerably wider than a tabletop rimof the tables to be stored, and a block of durable ploymeric plasticmaterial having a low coefficient of friction and low abrasiveness issecured to each downwardly-projecting tab, such that notches on theindexing bar are formed by gaps between adjacent blocks of the polymericplastic material.
 18. The storage rack of claim 17, wherein each blockof durable polymeric plastic material is secured to adownwardly-projecting tab with threaded fasteners.
 19. The storage rackof claim 17, wherein said durable polymeric plastic material is selectedfrom the group consisting of HDPE, TFE, and nylon.
 20. The storage rackof claim 13, wherein each point of connection between the individualpieces includes a stub extension on one piece and a socket, whichreceives the stub extension, on the other piece, said individual piecesbeing securable together with method selected from the group ofattachment methods consisting of welding and threaded fasteners.